The state government has passed legislation strengthening penalties for vandals who seriously damage local war memorials.
The Crimes Legislation Amendment (War Memorial Offences) Bill 2025 passed Parliament last Wednesday afternoon, creating an aggravated offence of intentional or reckless property damage or destruction applying to war memorials.
It increases the maximum penalty from five to seven years’ imprisonment for intentionally or recklessly damaging a war memorial. The bill also amended the Summary Offences Act to allow the court to order a convicted person to pay up to $4400 in compensation for any loss or damage caused.
This discretionary order means local councils, RSLs or other community organisations that maintain war memorials will not have to foot the bill for remediation.
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